Which division of pathology involves tissues removed from a patient during surgery?

Surgical pathology is the division of pathology that specifically focuses on the examination and diagnosis of tissues removed from a patient during surgical procedures. It involves the study of specimens acquired from surgeries to identify diseases, often cancer, through detailed microscopic analysis. This branch is crucial because it not only helps in making a definitive diagnosis that guides subsequent treatment decisions, but it also provides important information about the nature and extent of disease.

In surgical pathology, pathologists work closely with surgeons during and after operations to ensure that any abnormal findings can be promptly addressed and treated. By examining the excised tissues, they assess the presence, type, and staging of diseases, which is essential for patient management.

The other divisions, while important, do not specifically address the examination of tissues obtained during surgical procedures. Clinical pathology focuses on laboratory analyses of blood and other fluids, general pathology covers the overall mechanisms and patterns of disease development, and special pathology often pertains to specific types of diseases or organ systems, rather than the procedural context of surgery.